Investigating the mechanism of phase transformations and migration in olivine at high temperature

Abstract

A framework is presented to define the formation and migration mechanisms of oxides in olivine during their phase transformations at high temperature. The behaviour of olivine particles has been investigated at 1400 °C at two different residence times: 4 h and 115 h. The structural and vibrational properties of the resulting materials were analysed using both X-ray diffraction (notably, in situ X-ray diffraction) and Raman spectroscopy including its mapping mode. The measurements have shown the migration of magnetite and enstatite from the inner part of olivine particles towards the surface, which results in the alteration of the solid solution and the intergranular reaction of particles. These results contribute to a better knowledge of olivine material science, in particular, in the areas of catalysis, refractories and engineering.